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More Excuses...

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More Excuses...
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 24, 2005 5:20 AM
Well folks this Union Pacific's management has sat-in on three national meltdowns of the rail system in America these last 10 years.

Subjectivly I'm now witnessing this company's in-ablity to dispatch its Reno locals on time do to what appears to be power shortages. At Reno (Sparks, NV) I've witnessed theft of power from mainline trains to cover locals.

So, when trucking company's like Yellow/Roadway, seem not to be bothered by high fuel costs, why is this gaint of a railroad crying the blues...

"Union Pacific 1Q profit tumbles
(The Associated Press circulated the following article on April 21.)

OMAHA, Neb. -- Railroad operator Union Pacific Corp. said Thursday that its first-quarter profit plunged 22 percent, due to higher fuel costs and severe weather along the West Coast that disrupted service in January.

Quarterly income fell to $128 million, or 48 cents per share, from $165 million, or 63 cents, in the year-ago period. The company's earnings, however, hit the top end of a forecast from March and managed to top the average estimate of 47 cents per share from analysts polled by Thomson Financial.

Operating revenue at the operator of the largest railroad in the U.S. totaled $3.15 billion, up 9 percent from $2.89 billion a year earlier. Revenue from commodity shipments was 8 percent higher at $3 billion on a 1 percent increase in overall volume and greater fuel surcharges, Union Pacific said.

The company's average revenue also expanded by 8 percent to $1,306 per car from $1,214 the year before.

In the latest quarter, fuel and utility expenses surged 39 percent to $539 million, Union Pacific said, adding that its average fuel price jumped to $1.45 per gallon from $1.02 per gallon in last year's quarter.

"Demand for our services remains strong and our task is to leverage that strength into better bottom-line results," said *** Davidson, chairman and chief executive officer.


Friday, April 22, 2005
bentley@ble.org

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 24, 2005 8:39 AM
The answer is really simple, management at Union Pacific is so insolated from operation, that management has no idea how to run the company, either during good times or bad times.

Jim - Lawton, NV MP 236

As a side note, UP has some of the most dedicaded employees in the industry, and still they fail.
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Posted by BigJim on Sunday, April 24, 2005 9:00 AM
QUOTE: Union Pacific is so insolated from operation, that management has no idea how to run the company


But they sure know how to gouge a model railroader!

.

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 24, 2005 9:14 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by BigJim

But they sure know how to gouge a model railroader!


Yes, that is sort of a true statement, the bean counters and attorneys certainly understand getting revenue from traditionally non revenue sources, but they sure don't have any idea of how to make a railroad work, even though they have some of the best folks in the industry!

Jim
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Posted by dehusman on Sunday, April 24, 2005 10:38 AM
How do you know the Reno local was "stolen" from a mainline train?
How do you know the engine wasn't being set out by a mainline train for the local?

The only way to get an engine to Reno is for a mainline train to take it there.

Dave H.

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 24, 2005 11:06 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

How do you know the Reno local was "stolen" from a mainline train?
How do you know the engine wasn't being set out by a mainline train for the local?

The only way to get an engine to Reno is for a mainline train to take it there.

Dave H.


Well, when you see the Wabuska local heading east out of Sparks 6 or 7 hours late, with three units totaling over 12000 Horse Power with a light tonnage train what can you think.

Is this now rocket science.

The only Reno local now leaving on time from Sparks is BNSF's Fernley local...

Jim
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Posted by dehusman on Sunday, April 24, 2005 2:36 PM
I think your expectation is that the UP has "in-ablity to dispatch its Reno locals on time do to what appears to be power shortages" so if you see something you think that's "wrong" you assume its a failure. Regardless of whether it is or not its actually wrong or a failure. If you don't know what the plan is, how do you know if its off plan?

Dave H.

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 24, 2005 3:09 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

I think your expectation is that the UP has "in-ablity to dispatch its Reno locals on time do to what appears to be power shortages" so if you see something you think that's "wrong" you assume its a failure. Regardless of whether it is or not its actually wrong or a failure. If you don't know what the plan is, how do you know if its off plan?

Dave H.


My expectation of the Union Pacific railroad to do anything is zero. Right on, if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and is colored like a duck, its not a duck at all.

Have you considered a job with the current adminisration, they also have problems with observation. They say; there is no problem with the southern border...

Jim
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 24, 2005 5:33 PM
...............No comment!
BNSFrailfan.
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Posted by csxengineer98 on Sunday, April 24, 2005 8:58 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

I think your expectation is that the UP has "in-ablity to dispatch its Reno locals on time do to what appears to be power shortages" so if you see something you think that's "wrong" you assume its a failure. Regardless of whether it is or not its actually wrong or a failure. If you don't know what the plan is, how do you know if its off plan?

Dave H.
you have to love the arm chair railroaders.... never worked a day in the industry...or they know someone that is thier cousines sisters brothers nephews roomate that works for a railroad..and it dont even have to be the railroad in question they all of the sudden become experts on rail opporations......
jim....you say its 7 hours late...how do you know they just didnt move the timetable for the start time of the job in question..just becouse it was 7 hours sooner for a while donst mean its set in stone for ever..railroads will move start times on jobs when thier are issues such as a curfuew for MOW work zones or other issues that might couse a need for a time shift in the start of the job...... you just go off at the mouth complaining about something that you dont know the full truth about....and as far as the power... power is power... if its 12000 HP or 2000 HP..if the crew is told to use it..they will use it... think befor you speak old man
csx engineer
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Posted by Junctionfan on Sunday, April 24, 2005 10:43 PM
Obviously the board is going to have to do some auditing of departments and engage in some management reviews to see if they need to do some gene pool cleaning unemployement style.
Andrew
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Posted by dehusman on Sunday, April 24, 2005 11:48 PM
csx engineer, you are absolutely right, even though every one of Sp9033's assumptions about the Wabuska local he saw is wrong, it is so much easier to just spout the same old cliches' . Its like every railfan that sees a CSXT engine on the UP or a UP engine on the CSXT is sure its a certain sign of imminent merger or that somebody has "stolen" a unit.

Dave H.

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Posted by csxengineer98 on Monday, April 25, 2005 3:42 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

csx engineer, you are absolutely right, even though every one of Sp9033's assumptions about the Wabuska local he saw is wrong, it is so much easier to just spout the same old cliches' . Its like every railfan that sees a CSXT engine on the UP or a UP engine on the CSXT is sure its a certain sign of imminent merger or that somebody has "stolen" a unit.

Dave H.
its one thing to toss and assumption out in the ring as a question for clarifcation or something that you know to the best of your knowlage.... its a whole other can of worms when you take your assumption and preach it from the rooftops like its the word of god himself...and that is what jim dose... and when he get corrnored the then resorts to spewing out politlal crap.... go back through the arcives to see this pattern of behavor over and over with him... no matter what you say he trys and turns it aginst you...or just comes out of left field with some off the wall crap about GW Bush..or the republican party....just take a look above where out of the blue he makes a comment about working for the admistration and something about the southern boarders? where the hell did that come from?and what the hell did that have to do with a local trains power or what time it got out of the yard? NOTHING but time and time agin when jim gets nailed...he restorts to spewing anything....the only thing it can think of is he has internet terets syndrom
csx engineer
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Posted by dwRavenstar on Monday, April 25, 2005 7:50 AM
csxengineer,

Well stated and right on the mark.

Dave Wyland (dwRavenstar)
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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Monday, April 25, 2005 8:22 AM
The first quarter this year was a disaster for UP, with weather related washouts in numerous places closing lines for days. Personally, they did financially better than I had anticipated.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 25, 2005 9:00 AM
as the saying goes....when you assume you make an a$$ out of you and me
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Posted by spbed on Monday, April 25, 2005 12:46 PM
Yes I have used that adage from time to time [:o)][:D]

Originally posted by farmer03
[

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Posted by spbed on Monday, April 25, 2005 12:51 PM
Here is the chart for UPRR[:o)][:)]

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=UNP


[

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Posted by spbed on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 3:15 PM
Here is the BNSF chart. Looks quite like the UPRR one.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=BNI

Originally posted by SP9033

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Posted by csxengineer98 on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 6:06 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

csx engineer, you are absolutely right, even though every one of Sp9033's assumptions about the Wabuska local he saw is wrong, it is so much easier to just spout the same old cliches' . Its like every railfan that sees a CSXT engine on the UP or a UP engine on the CSXT is sure its a certain sign of imminent merger or that somebody has "stolen" a unit.

Dave H.
lol... roger on the imminent merger consperisies...lol.....but with all the leased power and HP hour returns we have running around the csx system...im sure it driving the "merger" people compleatly insaine!!!....lol
csx engineer
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Posted by bobwilcox on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 6:30 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by csxengineer98

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

csx engineer, you are absolutely right, even though every one of Sp9033's assumptions about the Wabuska local he saw is wrong, it is so much easier to just spout the same old cliches' . Its like every railfan that sees a CSXT engine on the UP or a UP engine on the CSXT is sure its a certain sign of imminent merger or that somebody has "stolen" a unit.

Dave H.
lol... roger on the imminent merger consperisies...lol.....but with all the leased power and HP hour returns we have running around the csx system...im sure it driving the "merger" people compleatly insaine!!!....lol
csx engineer


There are two things that are really funny about SP9033s rant on the Wabuska local. First, the railroad is so dynamic I can promise you the reason for running a local at a certain hp on one day was gone the next. Second, the line to Wabuska has shipper that will move 50-75 car lots at infrequent times.
Bob
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Posted by csxengineer98 on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 7:01 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by bobwilcox

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxengineer98

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

csx engineer, you are absolutely right, even though every one of Sp9033's assumptions about the Wabuska local he saw is wrong, it is so much easier to just spout the same old cliches' . Its like every railfan that sees a CSXT engine on the UP or a UP engine on the CSXT is sure its a certain sign of imminent merger or that somebody has "stolen" a unit.

Dave H.
lol... roger on the imminent merger consperisies...lol.....but with all the leased power and HP hour returns we have running around the csx system...im sure it driving the "merger" people compleatly insaine!!!....lol
csx engineer


There are two things that are really funny about SP9033s rant on the Wabuska local. First, the railroad is so dynamic I can promise you the reason for running a local at a certain hp on one day was gone the next. Second, the line to Wabuska has shipper that will move 50-75 car lots at infrequent times.
i understand that..and do alot of othe people..and its not about trains or railroad opporations for SP9033.....jim has found an outlet to try and preach his from of how the world should be politices.... granted alot of us do it at some point or another in this forum...but jim dose it all the time... starts a thread..such as this one...only to draw people in...and then once it starts to get a some action..out comes the politica attacts and comments out of the blue...it turns from a rant about trains into a political forum in which he is the only one that is alowed to have an oppion and his oppion is the only one that matters...its not trains...its policits and pushing agendas for him and this forum....and frankly..myself and others are starting to get fed up with it...policits has a place in this forum at times..but not evey posting by the same individual....
csx engineer
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 8:08 PM
Ah, the Union Pacific Wabsuka local which operates out of Sparks, NV. This local has a call time of 7:00 am Monday - Saturday. It operates between Sparks NV and Hazen NV on Union Pacific's "Overland Route." at Hazen it works to Wabsuka, NV on what was the former SP Mina branch. However this local only works as far out on its route as needed. Many times it works only as far as Fernley.

Up to about a year ago, power for this local was two GPs sometimes three, depending on train requirements. As I understand it, GPs for local work are in short supply, where possible the railroad is now using 6 axel units. The Wabuska local now gets it power from whatever mainline power that is in the yard. This unlike the Lovelock turn and Reno local which seem to get power allocated for these locals. The Lovelock turn gets GPs, the Reno local of late gets 6 axle power like SD40-2. BTW, if there is to be a Thorn job, it is called as an extra.

Yes, a very few times, the wabuska local will have 50 cars, but it is not the norm and is rare, 75 cars maybe once a year.

Yes, just when a person thinks he's got it figured out, something changes. To remain fluid a railroad and its line employee's both craft and management need to think outside the box.

And of course, foreign locomotives always indicate a buy-out! Everyone knows that!

It's sure easy to get some people out and pound hotly on their key boards.

Jim - Lawton, NV MP236
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Posted by dharmon on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 8:09 PM
Case in point.....
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Posted by csxengineer98 on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 4:03 AM
wow jim..i am almost impressed...not even 1 politcal comment... but what is your point....
csx engineer
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Posted by dehusman on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 7:48 AM
The Wabuska Local has used the same 2 engines for almost two weeks. Hardly seems like getting its power from "whatever mainline power that is in the yard".

Dave H.

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Posted by spbed on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 8:46 AM
OK then why did SP9033 post what he posted? Just wanted to ba***he UPRR because they took over the SPRR? [:o)][:D][:)]


Originally posted by dehusman
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 10:28 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

The Wabuska Local has used the same 2 engines for almost two weeks. Hardly seems like getting its power from "whatever mainline power that is in the yard".

Dave H.


Last week it had two GE's and an EMD SD40-2 on two different days. BTW do you know the locals train id (alpha codes)? Sure would like to find them out.

Jim



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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 10:39 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed

OK then why did SP9033 post what he posted? Just wanted to ba***he UPRR because they took over the SPRR? [:o)][:D][:)]


Originally posted by dehusman
[


Yes, It is alittle of that, but mostly its just stirring the pot.

Jim
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Posted by gabe on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 10:42 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by SP9033

QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed

OK then why did SP9033 post what he posted? Just wanted to ba***he UPRR because they took over the SPRR? [:o)][:D][:)]


Originally posted by dehusman
[


Yes, It is alittle of that, but mostly its just stirring the pot.

Jim


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